A Catholic Understanding of Sexuality

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A Catholic Understanding of Sexuality

• Presented by
• Sr. Jane Meyer, O.P.
• St. Agnes Academy
• Cheri Broadhead
• Totino-Grace High School

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• Gospel demands that we affirm thedignity and
  respond to the needs ofall Gods people.

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Areas of Concern

• Public display of affection
• Students identifying themselves openly as
  lesbians
• Potential of other non-lesbian students being
  drawn into the lesbian lifestyle
• The potential problem of the lesbian issue having
  a negative impact on the school

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SAA Policies/Catholic Teaching

• Respect all people.
• Its okay to disclose homosexual orientation in
  an appropriate manner. Seek guidance first.

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• Its okay to claim symbols related to homosexual
  orientation because the orientation is not
  sinful.
• Its not okay to use symbols or slogans to
  promote immoral behavior or to act contrary to
  Church teaching.

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From the first moment that a student sets foot
in a Catholic school, he or she ought to have the
impression of entering a new environment, one
illuminated by the light of faith, having its own
unique characteristics. Vatican Congregation
for Catholic Education
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The Vatican Congregation for Catholic Education
instructs those working in Catholic education
that they must welcome gay and lesbian students
(1982)
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Educationally, homosexuality cannot and ought
not to be skirted or ignored. The topic must be
faced in all objectivity by the pupil and the
educator when the case presents itself. Vatican
Congregation for Catholic Education, 1983
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Catholic High Schools

• Do our Catholic Schools present the whole message
  of the Church regarding the dignity and worth of
  gay and lesbian people?
• Do they present any message at all, or are they
  silent on the topic?

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STATISTICS

• 80 of gay/lesbian/bisexual youth report verbal
  abuse almost daily
• 44 report threats of attack
• 17 have been assaulted
• 97 of the time, teachers do not correct anti-gay
  slurs
• 30 of all successful suicides

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MATTHEW SHEPARD
What is it in our society that perpetuates the
attitudes that makes this violence okay?
Do you believe that the young men who committed
this crime could have viewed Matthew Shepard as a
fellow human being?
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Two women, girlfriends of the perpetrators, stood
and watched.
Have you ever stood by and watched someone be
harassed or insulted or hurt?
Why didnt they get involved?
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FACULTY/STAFF IN-SERVICE

• Churchs teaching on homosexuality
• How homosexuals come to know and deal with their
  orientation
• Resources available to help homosexual students
• Resources available to help all people understand
  the issue

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The culture of the school greatly affects how gay
and lesbian students integrate with the school.
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Diversity Week

• Video A Place at the Table
• (Southern Poverty Law Center)
• Breakout Sessionschoice of 2
• Multicultural Entertainment
• Prayer and commissioning

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Sexuality is about who you are.
Sexual Activity is about what you CHOOSE to do.
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SEXUAL ORIENTATION

• Not chosendiscovered.
• Refers to ones predominant emotional and sexual
  attraction
• 3 kinds
• Heterosexualto opposite gender
• Homosexualto same gender
• Bisexualto both

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SEXUAL ORIENTATION . . .

• Not fundamentally or primarily a tendency toward
  acts
• Psychosexual attraction toward particular persons
  
• A dimension of ones personality

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Heterosexual
Homosexual
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HOMOSEXUAL

• A person who sustains a PREDOMINANT, PERSISTENT,
  psychosexual, physical, and emotional attraction
  to the same sex.

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STEREOTYPES

• Homosexual persons are attracted to ALL same-sex
  persons.
• Homosexual persons are sexually promiscuous or
  pedophiles.

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SEXUAL INTEGRATION
Integrating sexuality into the totality of who
we are
Friendships and relationships are important.
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CHASTITY

• the virtue of living out ones sexuality
  according to Gods will
• is lived out differently according to vocational
  lifestyle and sexual orientation
• all are called to be chaste

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Wear your flak jacket!

• Your convictions
• Your love of kids
• Church Teaching
• The support of your team
• The strength of God and the angels!

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Ways to Address Sexual Orientation in the
Classroom

• Break the silence! Dont be afraid to use the
  words gay, lesbian, and bisexual.
• Assume that 4 10 of your students are
  gay/lesbian 1 to 3 in a class of 30.
• Challenge put-downs and homophobia.
• Be prepared for the teachable moments.
• Draw on current events.

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Ways to Address Orientation in the Classroom . . .

• Acknowledge the gay, lesbian, and bisexual
  people whom the students already know.

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SPORTS

• Martina Navratilova
• Greg Louganis

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PERFORMERS

• Elton John
• Melissa Etheridge
• Ellen DeGeneres

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AUTHORS

• Walt Whitman
• James Baldwin
• Langston Hughes
• Be conscious of the sexual orientation of
  characters in your classroom literature.

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Totino-Grace High School
Another Journey
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The things we have learned . . .
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Know the Church Teachings

• Always Our Children US Bishops Committee on
  Marriage and Family, 1997, 1998
• Sharing Catholic Social Teaching USCCB, 1998
• Catechism of the Catholic Church

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The Catholic Church proclaims that human life
is sacred and that the dignity of the human
person is the foundation of a moral vision for
society. We believe that every person is
precious . . . And that the measure of every
institution is whether it threatens or enhances
the life and dignity of the human person.
USCCB, 1999
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THEME FOR THE YEAR

• See the Face of God
• Which faces remain invisible in
  your school?

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The teaching of the Church makes it clear that
the fundamental human rights of homosexual
persons must be defended and that all of us must
strive to eliminate any form of injustice,
oppression, or violence against them.
Always our Children, USCCB
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It is not sufficient only to avoid unjust
discrimination. Homosexual persons must be
accepted with respect, compassion and
sensitivity. Catechism of the
Catholic Church, 2358 Always our
Children, USCCB
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Students and parents are counting on us to do
something to protect all children in our schools.
Are all students safe in your school?
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The things we have learned . . .
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KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY AND ITS NEEDS
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LEADERSHIP CAME FROM THE TOP

• Presidents meeting
• Faculty Inservice on the topic of Pastoral Care
  for Homosexual students
• Formal training for faculty and staff

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ANCHOR STAFF
The Anchor Staff includes members of the
Totino-Grace faculty and staff who are here to
listen to students with issues related to sexual
identity. This includes students who are gay or
lesbian, and reaches out to their friends and
family as well.
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ANCHOR SYMBOL
One of the earliest of Christian symbols that
means stability . . . As in fishermen who would
drop the anchor in a storm to keep the boats
steady. We, hopefully, offer stability to those
we serve. Our ultimate anchor is Christ.
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A Mosaic of Faith A Celebration of Catholic
Schools Week

• Recognition and blessing of people involved in
  outreach ministry
• Student Support Services
• Student of Color Group
• Peer Counselors
• Anchor Staff

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Look upon our brothers and sisters who give of
their time and talents to be available to our
Totino-Grace community. May your Holy Spirit
descend upon these men and women and give them
good judgment, wisdom, compassion and
understanding. May you, O God, hold them and all
of us in the palm of Your hand and keep us close
to You as we struggle and journey through life.
Amen.
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Catholic Pastoral Committee on Sexual Minorities
Training Manuel
Building Safe Schools A Catholic Perspective
1. Laying the Foundation A Faculty Inservice
2. Defining Safe Staff
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3. The GLBT Reality and the Catholic Church
4. Coming Out
5. The Classroom Setting and Beyond
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GLBT students need allies and count on them to
address harassment at school.
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RESPONDING TO HARASSMENTDos and Dont

• Do deal with a situation immediately
• Dont ignore it, let it pass, or let your fears
  block your ability to act
• Do confirm that the behavior is hurtful and will
  not be tolerated
• Do value the feelings of others by active,
  sensitive listening

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Dos and Donts

• Do take steps to support the victim and enable
  him/her to develop a stronger sense of self
• Do take those involved aside to discuss the topic
• Do apply consequences to the abuser in accordance
  with the school rules

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Dos and Donts

• Dont overreact with another put-down of the
  offender
• Dont focus entirely on applying consequences
  while ignoring the feelings of the victim
• Dont assume that the incident is an isolated
  occurrence divorced from the overall context in
  which it occurred

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The things we have learned
Dont move too fast
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Action is born out of students needs Totino
Grace Diversity Club
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MISSION STATEMENT
The Diversity Club is open to all students who
have a desire to gain and spread knowledge of
many forms of diversity in our world, in order to
promote peace, understanding and an end to
ignorance.
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THINGS WE HAVE LEARNED
The issue of Pastoral Care is one issue among
many related to diversity and the creation of a
safe environment for students.
Racism, Classism, Ableism, Sexism, Religious
Discrimination, Heterosexism
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HETEROSEXISM
The system of oppression that reinforces the
belief in the inherent superiority of
heterosexuality and heterosexual relationships
and negates gay, lesbian, and bisexual peoples
lives and relationships.
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Examples of Heterosexual Privilege

• The privilege to have children without any
  questions
• The privilege to dress as one pleases without
  worrying about what it represents to others
• The privilege to talk openly about your family,
  relationships or social activities

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Heterosexual Privilege

• The privilege of family support
• The privilege to be represented continually in
  media by heterosexual references and role models

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The things we have learned
Ask yourself, Will this program hurt or help the
overall cause?
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What is the projects purpose?Will it hurt or
help the cause?

• Day of Silence (April 22)
• National Coming Out Day (October 11)
• Gay faculty members coming out to the community

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See the Face of God
Another persons words are the windows to his or
her world, through which I see what it is like to
be that person. If he or she cannot speak, if I
do not listen, or if I cannot understand, then we
must remain suspicious strangers to one another,
uncognizant of our authentic similarities and
differences. Sidney Jourard
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RESOURCES YOU DONT WANT TO MISS . . .

• www.glsen.org
• A Place at the Table, Southern Poverty Law Center
• Homosexuality, Catholic Teaching and Pastoral
  Practice, Gerald D. Coleman, S.S.
• Being Gay and Lesbian in a Catholic High School,
  Beyond the Uniform, Michael Maher Jr., PhD

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RESOURCES CONTINUED

• Free Your Mind, Ellen Bass, Kate Haufman
• Straight from the Heart video
• Its Elementary video
• www.st-agnes.org, click About SAA, click
  Sexuality Program